Latest news with #NewApproach
Powys County Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Isle Of Jura targeting September Stakes reappearance
Isle Of Jura is on course to make his long-awaited comeback in the September Stakes at Kempton. The son of New Approach has been off the track for more than a year following his impressive win in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last season. The five-year-old is back in work but Scott will not rush a racecourse return as he prepares Isle Of Jura for a campaign in the Middle East. Scott said: 'Isle Of Jura is great. I'm really, really happy with him. He's had a few weeks cantering now. 'We're tentatively aiming for the September Stakes at Kempton as a prep run for a Middle Eastern campaign which can start in Bahrain for the Bahrain International. 'It's a little way away at the moment, but we're pleased with the way he's coming along and we're thinking of Kempton for his return.'
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Benn: NI gains from Windsor Framework will face consequences of US tariffs
Northern Ireland 'gains' from EU access under the Windsor Framework, but the whole of the UK will 'have to deal with the consequences' of US tariffs, Hilary Benn has said. Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Sir Julian Smith said the Windsor Framework arrangements give the region 'a unique competitive advantage', while TUV leader Jim Allister claimed Northern Ireland may be 'used as a conduit' by the EU to export goods to the US. President Donald Trump implemented a 10% tariff on the UK and a 20% tariff on the European Union as part of a slate of international measures on what he deemed 'liberation day'. The leaders of EU countries are due to vote on a package of counter-measures responding to US tariffs on steel and aluminium already in effect. If the EU decides to impose retaliatory tariffs on goods imported from the US, they would apply in Northern Ireland as the region continues to follow the EU's rules in some areas of trading due to the Windsor Framework. On Tuesday, the Northern Ireland Secretary said only 2% of imports to Northern Ireland come from the US, equivalent to about £800 million. Mr Benn stated that businesses who lost out as a result would be able to claim the disparity in levy back from the duty reimbursement scheme – if the goods have not entered the EU first – and the custom duty waiver scheme. In the House of Commons, he told MPs: 'Tariffs are not good news for anyone, and no-one wants a trade war. 'The Government is doing everything possible to keep Britain secure during this new era of global instability, and it will always act in the best interests of businesses in Northern Ireland.' He added: 'HMRC is continuing to talk to and support any businesses that might be affected to help them understand how to use the duty reimbursement and customs duty waiver schemes.' Later in response to DUP MP Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann), he stated: 'Northern Ireland gains from the Windsor Framework because of its access – it does gain from its access to the EU market, other parts of Great Britain do not enjoy. 'But there is a consequence, which is what we're discussing in relation to the imposition of tariffs by the United States of America, which is a decision that the US administration has taken and all of us are going to have to deal with the consequences.' As Northern Ireland secretary from 2019 to 2020, Sir Julian helped negotiated the 'New Decade, New Approach' that triggered the return of powersharing in after a three-year suspension. He said the '2019 Brexit deal and the Windsor Framework give Northern Ireland a unique competitive advantage – 10% exports and access to the single market', and asked for a 'rapid automatic reimbursement scheme' for tariffs paid by NI businesses. Mr Benn replied: 'Rapid automatic doesn't quite square with the need for the businesses in Northern Ireland that are importing American goods in the eventuality of EU retaliatory tariffs because they do have to demonstrate that they're not then moving on to the European Union, and that does require them to provide evidence to HMRC in order to get the tariff reimbursed.' Mr Allister asked Mr Benn if he was 'embarrassed that he and his Government have no control over the tariffs in respect of goods imported into Northern Ireland'. He continued: 'Isn't the obvious and inevitable answer to repatriate to the United Kingdom control over trade laws? 'And what happens if Northern Ireland is used as a conduit by the Republic of Ireland or the EU to export goods to the US? Who checks those goods and where?' DUP MP Jim Shannon (Strangford) said: 'The promise was made to Northern Ireland MPs that we would not be disadvantaged by any EU retentions. This is clearly not to be the case.' Mr Benn reiterated that the Windsor Framework 'brings benefits' to businesses in Northern Ireland. He added: 'The single most important reason for sticking with the implementation of the Windsor Framework is we want to negotiate closer economic relationships with the European Union, including a SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) and a veterinary agreement. 'And members from Northern Ireland have on many occasions raised the consequences of the current arrangement. Things could be a lot easier if we get that agreement. 'But as I have pointed out to the House many times before, if we do not honour the last agreement that the United Kingdom as a country signed by the last government with the European Union, how exactly do we expect to get a new agreement?'
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Benn: NI gains from Windsor Framework will face consequences of US tariffs
Northern Ireland 'gains' from EU access under the Windsor Framework, but the whole of the UK will 'have to deal with the consequences' of US tariffs, Hilary Benn has said. Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Sir Julian Smith said the Windsor Framework arrangements give the region 'a unique competitive advantage', while TUV leader Jim Allister claimed Northern Ireland may be 'used as a conduit' by the EU to export goods to the US. President Donald Trump implemented a 10% tariff on the UK and a 20% tariff on the European Union as part of a slate of international measures on what he deemed 'liberation day'. The leaders of EU countries are due to vote on a package of counter-measures responding to US tariffs on steel and aluminium already in effect. If the EU decides to impose retaliatory tariffs on goods imported from the US, they would apply in Northern Ireland as the region continues to follow the EU's rules in some areas of trading due to the Windsor Framework. On Tuesday, the Northern Ireland Secretary said only 2% of imports to Northern Ireland come from the US, equivalent to about £800 million. Mr Benn stated that businesses who lost out as a result would be able to claim the disparity in levy back from the duty reimbursement scheme – if the goods have not entered the EU first – and the custom duty waiver scheme. In the House of Commons, he told MPs: 'Tariffs are not good news for anyone, and no-one wants a trade war. 'The Government is doing everything possible to keep Britain secure during this new era of global instability, and it will always act in the best interests of businesses in Northern Ireland.' He added: 'HMRC is continuing to talk to and support any businesses that might be affected to help them understand how to use the duty reimbursement and customs duty waiver schemes.' Later in response to DUP MP Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann), he stated: 'Northern Ireland gains from the Windsor Framework because of its access – it does gain from its access to the EU market, other parts of Great Britain do not enjoy. 'But there is a consequence, which is what we're discussing in relation to the imposition of tariffs by the United States of America, which is a decision that the US administration has taken and all of us are going to have to deal with the consequences.' As Northern Ireland secretary from 2019 to 2020, Sir Julian helped negotiated the 'New Decade, New Approach' that triggered the return of powersharing in after a three-year suspension. He said the '2019 Brexit deal and the Windsor Framework give Northern Ireland a unique competitive advantage – 10% exports and access to the single market', and asked for a 'rapid automatic reimbursement scheme' for tariffs paid by NI businesses. Mr Benn replied: 'Rapid automatic doesn't quite square with the need for the businesses in Northern Ireland that are importing American goods in the eventuality of EU retaliatory tariffs because they do have to demonstrate that they're not then moving on to the European Union, and that does require them to provide evidence to HMRC in order to get the tariff reimbursed.' Mr Allister asked Mr Benn if he was 'embarrassed that he and his Government have no control over the tariffs in respect of goods imported into Northern Ireland'. He continued: 'Isn't the obvious and inevitable answer to repatriate to the United Kingdom control over trade laws? 'And what happens if Northern Ireland is used as a conduit by the Republic of Ireland or the EU to export goods to the US? Who checks those goods and where?' DUP MP Jim Shannon (Strangford) said: 'The promise was made to Northern Ireland MPs that we would not be disadvantaged by any EU retentions. This is clearly not to be the case.' Mr Benn reiterated that the Windsor Framework 'brings benefits' to businesses in Northern Ireland. He added: 'The single most important reason for sticking with the implementation of the Windsor Framework is we want to negotiate closer economic relationships with the European Union, including a SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) and a veterinary agreement. 'And members from Northern Ireland have on many occasions raised the consequences of the current arrangement. Things could be a lot easier if we get that agreement. 'But as I have pointed out to the House many times before, if we do not honour the last agreement that the United Kingdom as a country signed by the last government with the European Union, how exactly do we expect to get a new agreement?'
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Magee: Funding 'not yet in place' to redevelop Derry campus land
Funding is "not yet in place" to redevelop five riverfront sites in Londonderry which have been earmarked to help Ulster University (UU) reach 10,000 students at the Derry campus, its vice-chancellor has said. The land was bought in December last year from businessman Garvan O'Doherty as part of expansion plans for the campus, formerly known as Thursday, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said UU now had the land it needed to expand, following the additional purchase of the Timber Quay office block on the Strand Paul Bartholomew said Timber Quay will eventually cater for up to 700 students, but redeveloping the other riverfront sites would take time. 'We don't have a crystal ball' Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today on Friday morning, Mr Bartholomew said the acquisition of the Timber Quay site was a "good news story" for their immediate expansion plans, but that long-term goals for the other sites would need further scrutiny. "We have just bought land and the land is there as an option," he said."As I said, we don't have a crystal ball in terms of the shape of the growth going forwards, but we certainly need land to accommodate whatever we are going to do. "Of course, buildings take a long time to build and the overall funding for that endeavour isn't yet in place as we know, we are going year-by-year, but this is a good news story for what we need to do for our growth this coming year."We are already full on our campus, so we need Timber Quay for this coming September." The most recent purchase comes after a report on boosting student numbers at the campus was published last report said the increase to 10,000 students by 2032 would help address regional imbalance and be "transformative" for the north west university currently has about 5,335 students enrolled in its Derry campus this academic Bartholomew said the total number of students will surpass 6,000 in the 2025/26 academic year with the Timber Quay site. A 10,000 student target in Derry was included in New Decade, New Approach, (NDNA), which restored Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive in stated that both the UK and Irish governments would aim to financially support that expansion target.A commitment to expand the campus "to accommodate" 10,000 student numbers was also included in Stormont's programme of government, which was agreed by the NI Executive on some residents near the university campus expressed concerns over the impact increasing student numbers without suitable accommodation would have on the surrounding residential group, Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM) had called on the council to cap the number of houses in multiple occupation (HMO).A house in multiple occupation is a property rented out by at least three people who share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen, also referred to as a "house share".
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Derry: Office block secured to 'help drive' Magee expansion
An office block has been secured to help facilitate the expansion of Ulster University's Londonderry campus to 10,000 students by 2032, the Department for Economy (DfE) has a visit to the campus on Thursday, Economy Minster Dr Caoimhe Archibald announced the purchase of the Timber Quay office block, which follows the recent acquisition of a number of sites along the city's purchase comes after a report on boosting student numbers at the campus, which was formerly known as Magee, was published last report said the increase to 10,000 students by 2032 would help address regional imbalance and be "transformative" for the north west region. However, the report, which was overseen by a taskforce established by former Minister Conor Murphy, also noted the quantity of privately-rented accommodation and purpose-built student accommodation must be increased to meet expansion university currently has about 5,335 students enrolled in its Derry campus this academic year. Previously, some residents near the university campus expressed concerns over the impact increasing student numbers without suitable accommodation would have on the surrounding residential area. The group, Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM) had called on the council to cap the number of houses in multiple occupation (HMO).A house in multiple occupation is a property rented out by at least three people who share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen, also referred to as a "house share".Five sites, which were previously owned by businessman Garvan O'Doherty, were purchased in December last year as part of expansion plans. A 10,000 student target in Derry was included in New Decade, New Approach, (NDNA), which restored Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive in stated that both the UK and Irish governments would aim to financially support the 10,000 student number expansion target.A commitment to expand the campus "to accommodate" 10,000 student numbers was also included in Stormont's programme of government, which was agreed by the NI Executive earlier on Thursday morning. Dr Archibald, who took over the role as minister from party colleague Conor Murphy earlier this year, said the acquisition of the Timber Quay building would allow Ulster University to accommodate 375 new students in the next academic year."This purchase, along with the additional lands secured along Queen's Quay, means we can drive forward to reach 10,000 students at Magee by 2032," she of Ulster University Prof Paul Bartholomew said the campus "is currently at maximum capacity" and they have a "pressing need for more space"."Timber Quay will be quickly transformed into teaching and learning environments in time to welcome new and returning students in September 2025. "The additional land that we have acquired in partnership with DfE around Queen's Quay will help us to add additional spaces in the future."We will continue to work with our partners to realise growth on this campus and are grateful to our co-investors in the Department for the Economy for their financial support to ensure that, together, we are delivering."Chair of the Magee Taskforce Stephen Kelly said the announcement "ensures that momentum is maintained to deliver on the 10,000 minimum target agreed in the Programme for Government". "The university has purchased these properties from local owners who are as determined as all of us in seeing Ulster University's expansion plans meeting the city's economic, cultural and social ambitions," he said.
